Crazy Cat Menagerie [Primer, Rotated]

Standard sagramore

SCORE: 201 | 140 COMMENTS | 25475 VIEWS | IN 87 FOLDERS


agonize says... #1

Would you consider playing Oath of Ajani, Ajani Unyielding and Gideon Ally of Zendikar if this wasn't budget ?

May 3, 2017 6:33 a.m.

djnewellmit says... #2

I would like to point out that Oviya Pashiri, Sage Lifecrafter makes an excellent cat lady. She is an easy one-drop and also has great synergies with the token strategy.

May 3, 2017 10:02 a.m.

djnewellmit says... #3

Two more utility two-drop cats to consider, possibly for the sideboard: Watchers of the Dead from Amonkhet, and Felidar Cub from Battle for Zendikar. I'm tinkering with a similar idea, and may also look into Scythe Leopard.
Do you own any Panharmonicon? They produce a very similar effect as Anointed Procession; it would double the enter-the-battlefield abilities of Regal Caracal, Metallic Mimic and Cast Out. All you would lose if you swapped the Panharmonicon for the Anointed Procession copies of tokens created by embalming the Sacred Cat and Oketra's Monument. I'm running 2 of Panharmonicon and 2 Processions in my current build since they are so similar.

May 3, 2017 10:13 a.m.

sagramore says... #4

djnewellmit Thanks for your pointers. I will take a look at Oviya Pashiri, Sage Lifecrafter. The tokens strategy is solid.

I had originally got Watchers of the Dead in the deck but I swapped them out for something (don't remember which) - definitely decent sideboard cards. I agree with the Felidar Cub as well as I have no enchant removal.

I do own one Panharmonicon. I see your point about the replacement of Anointed Procession - would definitely work in place for less CMC so I will check the option of running a mixture out.

Thanks again for the tips!

May 3, 2017 3:11 p.m.

sagramore says... #5

agonize Thanks for the comment too. I had looked at a few Ajani cards that I already own (trying to keep the budget low). I was trying to stay "true to theme" with the cats, and while Ajani himself is a cat (sort of...) I felt like Nissa worked a little better in this particular deck. Gideon, Ally of Zendikar is another great card but it does deviate from the cat theme a little so I don't know if the benefits outweigh that. Perhaps I'm being picky though too as Nissa is hardly a cat :)

May 3, 2017 3:14 p.m.

majin_shinsa says... #6

But she can be a crazy cat lady! But on point, the tapped duals are good for a budget so you don't get Mana screwed. Down the road you can upgrade but half of the rares are rotating out of standard in September so you don't really need to get them even though they are cheap

May 4, 2017 7:03 p.m.

sagramore says... #7

majin_shinsa - Haha, yes she is a good crazy cat lady!

Thanks for the comment on the tap lands. I think you're right, it's good to have a few in there just in case you really aren't drawing the right land. The deck is a little slow anyway (from my very limited play testing) so I don't think they're really the bit holding it back.

May 4, 2017 7:06 p.m.

majin_shinsa says... #8

Plus you only 4 one drops unless you add the green chick so your deck isn't based on having a ramped low curve. If you have any Aether Hub that could replace your tapped lands

May 4, 2017 7:13 p.m.

sagramore says... #9

majin_shinsa you're right, the Aether Hub might be a great addition now that I have added the Longtusk Cubs as well. Thanks for the idea. I will try it out.

May 4, 2017 7:17 p.m.

djnewellmit says... #10

I took my cat deck, Cat Fight!, to FNM and Saturday Showdown. I don't know why I didn't think of little Nissa Nissa, Voice of Zendikar for your deck. She works perfectly with the token theme, and she has her awesome +1/+1 counters for all your creatures. I was having a similar problem getting Ajani Unyielding out of my hand due to his cost; I lost many games with him still in my hand.

Also Attune with Aether works better with the Longtusk Cub than Aether Hub; one Hub on the battlefield does not help pump Cub. Attune is effectively a tapped land of a color of your choosing, but it gives you another play on turn one beside Sacred Cat and enough energy to pump the Cub. I'm looking to get a playset of Scattered Groves to throw into my deck to help with my mana-fixing.

I see you have Hunt the Weak in the sideboard. Consider replacing it with Cartouche of Strength for one less CMC. I don't think there is any functional difference between the enchantment's +1/+1 or another counter, and the Cartouche gives trample.

May 7, 2017 8:04 p.m.

sagramore says... #11

djnewellmit excellent pointers, thanks again.

I don't have that Nissa but I can definitely see the benefits, I'll see if I can find a copy.

You're completely correct about the Attune with Aether and the Cartouche of Strength of course. I'm annoyed I didn't think of those myself other than perhaps simply due to my inventory... When I made the deck originally I gave a bias to cards I owned in sufficient quantity over cards I didn't that were better but I'm willing to spend a few dollars here and there :)

Thanks again for the tips.

May 8, 2017 4:18 a.m.

Graceful Cat is a pretty shit card (aside from the fact that it's a cat of course!). I'd suggest more Prowling Serpopard and Longtusk Cub. I use Metallic Mimic in my Standard cat deck too, with mixed results. If you wanna check it out: Here Kitty Kitty Kitty......

Also, it doesn't seem like the Felidar Sovereign angle is too practical here. Probably worth replacing. Not enough life gain, and you will be taking damage too. I realize that it's a big creature, but with multiple Regal Caracal, you will get big enough creatures. Maybe chop it to 1 at most, especially with no mana ramp.

Just some thoughts =)

May 19, 2017 9:58 a.m.

sagramore says... #13

BubbleMatrix2357 - Thanks for taking the time to comment! I am inclined to agree with you. I think the Longtusk Cub energy and the Prowling Serpopard size are probably both actually more valuable.

Regarding Felidar Sovereign I am still undecided. I like the idea of having something "large" in the deck and there are a few ways to try and get the extra life, but you may be correct. Either way, it is one of the first cards to rotate out of standard so perhaps it will need to be replaced anyway!

June 2, 2017 4:15 a.m. Edited.

sagramore says... #14

BubbleMatrix2357 - I have also just realised that it is pretty much only the Felidar Sovereign that rotates out in the fall so it will be the first thing to get replaced too. The rest of the deck (and most of the sideboard) is good for ~18 more months!

June 4, 2017 11:30 a.m.

sagramore says... #15

To all those who've commented previously - I have just made some reasonable changes to the deck to make it Standard legal until at least Fall 2018. Please see the description for a bit more detail :) Thanks for commenting!

June 7, 2017 4:22 p.m.

Felidar Sovereign goes great with this deck, giving yet another win con (reaching 40 life), which is pretty attainable, especially since every cat gets lifelink with the caracal. Also, Prowling Serpopard is a good tech against control decks.

June 7, 2017 11:13 p.m.

sagramore says... #17

Hi Purplepotatoes - You are right, it's a great card and there's some lifelink in the deck. I did also have Renewed Faith in there as well.

However in the description I've given a few reasons why I took them out and tweaked the deck a couple of days ago. It's a little more focused now (plus stays standard legal for an extra year).

Those cards stay on the maybeboard though :)

June 8, 2017 6:55 a.m.

Nimius says... #18

Clear Shot is another great kill card when dealing with things like Mardu vehicles and such. The instant speed lets you swoop in before blockers are declared and such.

June 8, 2017 8:28 a.m.

I LOVE YOU

June 8, 2017 9:31 a.m.

sagramore says... #20

Nimius - Thanks for the tip! I will keep it in mind. I've been leaning towards cards from KLD or after but that is a good card worth considering.

waffledevouror - blush

June 8, 2017 12:59 p.m.

Entomo says... #21

Anointed Procession + Soul Separator + Regal Caracal YOU ARE WELCOME!


Soul Procession Combo

Standard Entomo

SCORE: 46 | 35 COMMENTS | 3087 VIEWS | IN 17 FOLDERS


June 9, 2017 1:36 a.m.

Falcon_Galeo says... #22

I would recommend mainboarding 4 copies of Prowling Serpopard, sure its a good sideboard tech card, but in a cat tribal deck, a 4/3 for 3 that cant be countered and has another useful ability is simply amazing value.

June 10, 2017 7:20 a.m.

Falcon_Galeo says... #23

you already do... i am stupid

June 10, 2017 7:21 a.m.

majin_shinsa says... #24

What about Oath of Ajani? +1/+1 to all your creatures wouldn't hurt and you can cast it multiple times. Durable Handicraft could be a fun card in a janky kind of way. No one would expect it! Heroic Intervention is a card that I have fallen in love with in the new world of Sweltering Suns/Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger. Vizier of the Menagerie lets you keep casting creatures as long as you have mana.

June 10, 2017 8:36 a.m. Edited.

sagramore says... #25

majin_shinsa - Yet again some very nice card suggestions there, thank you. I will have a good think about them. I can see a couple of options including (but not limited to):

Also very interested in Durable Handicraft and Heroic Intervention even if just for the sideboard.

June 10, 2017 10:16 a.m.

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